BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
Traditional worshippers in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have carried out rituals at Bode Market, Molete in Ibadan, Oyo State, following the auto accident that claimed lives and property in the area penultimate Sunday.
Four people were killed with six others injured when a gas tanker heading from Molete lost control and crashed into the ancient market.
Our correspondent who visited the market on Tuesday observed that the Ogun and Oya worshippers were on hand to perform rituals purportedly to appease their gods in order to avert further disasters in the place.
One of the leaders of the Ogun worshippers, Akeem Ogunbiyi, told our correspondent that they were engaging in the rituals, which were supposed to have been done long ago, in order to ward off evils from the market.
He said, “We, the Ogun adherents, had to perform some rituals. We killed a dog to appease the gods. Having done this, we believe that there will be no more disaster or mishap in the market.
“Oya worshippers are also there doing their thing and we know that our prayers have been answered. It is not good to disobey the gods, especially when there is an instruction to offer sacrifice or a warning not to do something.”
Meanwhile, some of the traders in the market said two more corpses were picked from under the truck after it was removed.
The traders had, on Sunday, blamed some of their colleagues whom, they said, refused to obey the instruction earlier given by the traditionalists that the market should be closed for seven days so that rituals could be performed to avert a looming danger. Some traders were said to have heeded by abstaining from trading within the days set aside while many others ignored the warning.
